The diagnosis of breast cancer is a life-changing event. Breast cancer causes deep effects in those afflicted because it not only attacks the body but it can also affect the psychological aspects of a woman's sexual identity. The treatment of cancer often involves medications and treatments that can have grave side effects. Antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C have been shown to lessen the side effects of chemotherapy and some studies have demonstrated a reduction in recurrence and overall mortality.
Who is at Risk of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and it is the second most common cause of cancer related deaths in women, preceded by lung cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates 212,930 new breast cancers and 40,870 deaths in 2005. A woman's risk of invasive breast cancer is 1 in 8 and can be affected by family history, genetic mutations, no childbirth, pregnancy after age 30, onset menstrual cycles before age 12, menopause after age 50, history of uterine cancer. Treatment for breast cancer may include a combination of radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery and will depend on stage of the cancer and patient preference.
Antioxidant Vitamins
Breast cancer and its treatment can have devastating effects on the immune system and can make nutrition a challenge. There are medical theories that antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin E and vitamin C may help with some of the side effects of the treatments. Radiation and some of the chemotherapeutic medications used can cause free radicals which are atoms with unbalanced electrons that can cause damage to healthy tissues.
Are Vitamins Safe with Breast Cancer
The damage to healthy tissue is thought to be alleviated by antioxidant vitamins. The free radical atoms that are formed during treatment can damage tissues and proteins. Antioxidants can make these harmful atoms inert or remove them from the system. Since antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C are thought to eliminate these free radicals, it is thought that taking these supplements can help minimize or prevent tissue damage to healthy tissue. Sara Nechuta et al. studied a group of 4,877 women over a period of 4.1 years. This study found that there was an 18 percent reduction in mortality risk and a 22 percent reduction in cancer recurrence in those women who regularly took vitamin E, vitamin C, and multivitamins. The women took the supplements within the first six months of diagnosis and the benefits were not apparent in patients who also received radiation.
Vitamin C and Antioxidant Regimens
The available data suggests that supplementation with antioxidant vitamins protects against the side effects of chemotherapy. There is some controversy as to the dosage of antioxidants that should be taken. The protective effect that the vitamins have on the healthy tissue may also protect cancer cells. A dosage of 500 milligrams of vitamin C and 400 milligrams of vitamin E provides the desired effect in reducing side effects however there are no long term clinical outcome studies at this time. The American Cancer Society offers a wealth of nutritional information and states that foods rich in vitamin C show a reduced risk however vitamin supplements have not shown a risk reduction and makes no recommendation on its use in patients with breast cancer. An open discussion with an oncologist should include the management of all side effects. Since patients react to therapy differently and not all medications cause the oxidative damage, the use of anti oxidant vitamins should be reviewed and an individual plan agreed on with a physician.
References
- "CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment Obstetrics & Gynecology"; Mathew Poggi et al.;2006
- "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention"; Vitamin Supplement Use During Breast Cancer Treatment and Survival: A Prospective Cohort Study;Sarah Nechuta et al.;2011
- "Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics"; Effect of vitamins C and E on antioxidant status of breast-cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy; N Suhail;2011
- American Cancer Society Nutrition Guidelines
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